when you tell your child that you're having another baby depends on their age,
the younger they are the longer you can wait. whenever you do it though, it's important that
your child hears the news from you so you can help him understand that a new baby is coming...

there is no harm in having an imaginary friend. in fact, research shows that
having an imaginary friend is linked to heightened creativity later in life, as well as strong
verbal skills and a good understanding of social interactions. pretend play gives children
an opportunity to explore the complexities of the world in a safe, imaginary environment...

when toddlers use physical aggression (e.g., hitting, biting, hair pulling),
they are actually trying to communicate. usually, they want something but lack the self-control
and intellectual maturity to think of alternate ways of getting it...

a time-out is a form of punishment that is most useful for children two and
older. time-outs do two important things. first, they stop the misbehavior immediately and
remove your child from the activity. second, time-outs are a non-violent approach to discipline
that put the responsibility on the child to be able to rejoin the group. time-outs should only
be used in instances of aggression (either physical or verbal).

most children become physically and emotionally ready between the ages of 22
months and 3 years (girls are usually ready earlier than boys). when your child is ready,
she'll show you the following signs...